Humpday History Highlight
By Wyatt Earp | December 30, 2009
December 30, 1916 – Rasputin is Murdered
Sometime over the course of the night and the early morning of December 29-30, 1916, Grigory Efimovich Rasputin, a self-proclaimed holy man, is murdered by Russian nobles eager to end his influence over the royal family.
Fearful of Rasputin’s growing power (among other things, it was believed by some that he was plotting to make a separate peace with the Germans), a group of nobles, led by Prince Felix Youssupov, the husband of the czar’s niece, and Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich, Nicholas’s first cousin, lured Rasputin to Youssupov Palace on the night of December 29, 1916.
First, Rasputin’s would-be killers gave the monk food and wine laced with cyanide. When he failed to react to the poison, they shot him at close range, leaving him for dead. A short time later, however, Rasputin revived and attempted to escape from the palace grounds, whereupon his assailants shot him again and beat him viciously. Finally, they bound Rasputin, still miraculously alive, and tossed him into a freezing river. His body was discovered several days later and the two main conspirators, Youssupov and Pavlovich were exiled. (H/T – History.com)
Poisoned, shot, shot again, beaten, and the man was still alive. That’s one tough bastard, but I guess even tough bastards cannot overcome a Russian winter.
(There’s a bonus HHH under the fold.)
December 30, 1981 – Gretzky Scores 50 Goals in 39 Games
I had to post this video of my idol breaking a seemingly unbreakable record. Just a damned shame he did it against the Flyers.
Topics: HHH | 7 Comments »
December 30th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
The Russian winter is notorious for a reason; many a French and German soldier over the centuries could’ve testified to that fact. And Wayne Gretsky had to break that record against somebody.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Morgan – Lots of bodies in Stalingrad are proof. And to be honest, I usually cheered for Gretzky when he played against the Flyers – except during the Stanley Cup Finals in 1985 and 1987.
December 30th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
You forgot all about Dec. 30 1971!
My birthday Ha ha!
December 30th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
LOL on the Russian winter observation. Probably with todays technology coupled with lack of blood loss due to the cold they might have been able to revive him again:) lol
December 31st, 2009 at 12:07 am
Neely came pretty close to that record with 50 in 44 games. Of course that was over the entire course of a season, not the first 44 games. And Neely couldn’t play every game anymore thanks to stupid Ulf Sammualson or however you spell it.
December 31st, 2009 at 8:16 am
His body was found and he had water in his lungs…meaning he was still breathing when he was thrown in the river.
At least, that’s what the History channel said.
December 31st, 2009 at 1:36 pm
ckuhner – Happy birthday!
Jon – No reason for Putin to fear that. His vodka content would keep him thoroughly protected from the cold.
Chris – I’m a Pens fan and even I hated Ulf Samuelsson. Neely, however, was an awesome player, and he was great in Dumb & Dumber.
GroovyVic – Damn. Impressive.